SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. city of San Francisco announced the cancellation of the city’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks show as holiday gatherings and travel have expedited the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The event could draw tens of thousands to the waterfront, creating a hotbed for viral infections, public health officials said on Tuesday (Dec. 29), adding that another big worry is a shortage of staff to handle large events.
New Year’s Eve already presents challenges for San Francisco’s police and fire departments, given the number of parties and revelers, according to a report by San Francisco Chronicle.
As of Tuesday, 84% of eligible San Francisco residents are vaccinated and 55% have received a booster shot, officials said in a news release. (Xinhua) – bny
